"She had tried to find the high priest and bring him back to you in chains, to prove her innocence and win back her place as high priestess." The son explains. "But, she was defeated, her men were killed, and she's now alone with no chance of bringing him in." He seems to grumble at the fact that he wasn't part of the fight. The acolyte takes over. "My lady, in her own words, says that she knows that she has no future in the city, that you'll use her as a scapegoat one way or another. If she runs, she believes she'll be hunted down by your assassins, and that at least if she gives herself up, her son could survive." The aforementioned son purses his lip tightly.
He decides that fast action will be better, but first, he decides to check on Maat and Flavia. He needs to know that they haven't betrayed him, and Flavia is an important part of his plan anyway.
'Well I'll be...' Aulus did a double check when he saw more men joining Ouei. He looked over to Aphrodite to see if she had noticed what her mother was getting up to.
Looking at the younger woman, Aulus sees Aphrodite blush and look away from her mother's exploits, catching Aulus' sight and giving him a sweet looking smile.
The Egyptian continues her smile and hurries over, Agorix making some room with a smirk at the girl's enthusiasm.
'Well, I told you earlier to stick close to your mother, and then that develops,' Aulus chuckled, 'So you'll have to make due with us for now.' He looked to Agorix, introducing Aphrodite, 'Agorix, this is Aphrodite, General Pesca's daughter.' Before he did the same the other way, 'Aphrodite, this is Agorix, a Gallic mercenary from Massalia.'
Anai hummed as she leaned back. Antagonizing the youth could be a bad idea. True, she wanted to deal with the priestess, but there was a bond there, which she could use. "I can't allow the High priestess to leave, unpunished." She says slowly. "She will surrender, and your son will bring her..." Anai paused. "After bringing back the high priest. The capture of the villain and surrender would allow me to spare her life. But she would still be punished - severely. She would also be enslaved." She offered them a bone. The prospect of dealing with a high priest should be enough to quell most of the dissatisfaction with such action.
Quintus searched the duo, and eventually found them in one of the tents - the tent of the commander they were sent to. Maat was standing over some map, studying them. Flavia on the other hand was riding the Legate. She must have been doing that for a while, because she was spent, barely contrehent.
" 'sup lass?" Agorix asked, treating general's daughter with a typical barbarian lack of respect connected with - and Aulus might have imagined that - slight dislike. "Hello." Aphrodite bowed her head and greeted Agorix with respect.
"She didn't do anything..." Anai sees the young man's fists clench, but before anything can happen, the acolyte moves forward, calming him down. "Very well." He says. "With your permission, I'll gather a few men I know from the garrison, and bring the high priest to you, and then...my mother."
Quintus observes quietly for some time. After all, just because Flavia is sleeping with the man doesn't mean she's doing it for the reason Quintus intended. Pesca makes sure that she's gaining the legatus' loyalty for his benefit, before revealing himself.
"Very well." Anai allowed. "If you do well, I might be able to make it so your mother will be given to you as a slave. But that will require your cooperation."
He had to wait a few more minutes - during which, it seemed that Maat became aware of him - but she did not say anything. The Legatus continued fucking Flavia, to the point the woman passed out - to annoyance of the man.
'It's getting late, we should probably get some sleep,' Aulus said, 'Wake me when it's my turn to hold watch.' He laid out some of the bedrolls for them, before he laid down.
"You have to ensure that the high priest is captured. He has to be brought by your mother, and she has to surrender herself after." Anai said. "You have to placate the people."
